Dental Assistant (EF)

Full Job Description

Join the Indian Health Service dental team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native patients.

As an Expanded Functions (EF) Dental Assistant, you will work alongside dental providers in a collaborative environment dedicated to delivering compassionate, high-quality oral health care.

We encourage applicants who value service, cultural respect, and professional excellence to apply.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social).

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience.

You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): NOTE: Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.

Essentially, they must (l) have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and (2) be certified as radiographers in their field.

The following meet these requirements: (1) Persons employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel prior to the effective date of the regulation (January 13, 1986) who show evidence of current or fully satisfactory performance or certification of such from a licensed practitioner such as a Doctor of Medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, podiatry, or chiropractic who prescribes radiologic procedures to others.

(2) Persons first employed by the Federal Government as radiologic personnel after the effective date of the regulation who (a) received training from institutions in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not accredit training in that particular field at the time of graduation, or (b) practiced in a State or foreign jurisdiction that did not license that particular field or did not allow special eligibility to take a licensure examination for those who did not graduate from an accredited educational program, provided such persons show evidence of training, experience, and competence, as determined by OPM or the employing agency.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Special Requirements for GS-5 and above Dental Assistant (Expanded Function): Applicants for Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) positions must have completed 1 year of acceptable course work, preceptorship, or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to equip them with knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures involved in the position to be filled.

Examples of acceptable training are: Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded functions) that are to be performed in the position to be filled.

U.S. Army's Dental Therapy Assistant Training Program.

Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals, clinics, or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures in the position to be filled.

GS-06: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Performing routine and complex alloy and composite restorations, including multi-surface restorations, pin retention, cusp build-ups, and incisal angle replacement following dentist preparation; selecting, adapting, seating, and cementing stainless steel crowns; fabricating and placing temporary crowns and bridges; placing bases and liners; contouring matrices; applying and removing rubber dams; removing sutures; and applying periodontal dressings.

Experience also includes providing advanced chairside assisting; performing oral prophylaxis using ultrasonic and hand instrumentation; applying topical fluoride and pit and fissure sealants; taking and processing digital intra-oral radiographs.

Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level.

Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements by the respective cut-off day of rating to be eligible for consideration. Major Duties:

Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Dental Assistant Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov) Performs routine and complex alloy and composite restorations, including those requiring pin retention, cusp build-ups, multi-surface restorations, and incisal angle replacement.

Selects, adapts, seats, and cements stainless steel crowns and fabricates and places temporary crowns and bridges.

Places bases and liners, contours matrices, carves and polishes restorations, and finishes complex restorations independently within established guidelines.

Performs advanced chairside assisting while allowing the dentist to transition to the next patient.

Applies and removes rubber dams, removes sutures, applies periodontal dressings, and takes preliminary impressions.

Performs oral prophylaxis and advanced calculus removal using ultrasonic and hand instruments.

Conducts expanded dental laboratory functions, including mounting casts on articulators and pouring final impressions.

Actively participates in quality assurance/quality improvement activities, community outreach, and patient education.

Exercises greater judgment in selecting instruments and techniques, with work reviewed periodically rather than continuously.